Banquo

• Symbolism:

  • opposite to Macbeth, as he represents the route that Macbeth chose not to take.
  • The path where ambition doesn't lead to betrayal and murder.
  • constructs of Macbeth and Banquo to show how men can react when shown temptation.
  • Banquo is portrayed as Macbeth's foil and is therefore symbolic of man's ability to resist temptation.
• Temptation:

  • Shakespeare's exposure of both Banquo and Macbeth to temptation is necessary for the audience to view the contrasting responses to decide which man is the morally righteous one.
  • Shakespeare portrays temptation as the crux of the play.
  • vital for Banquo to be faced with temptation and ambition as it proves that Banquo is morally strong; his strength doesn't come from an easy path, but from resisting temptation.
  • Macbeth's hamartia (a fatal flaw) is that he is too weak to resist the influence of the Witches and Lady Macbeth.
• Message of temptation:

  • to the audience that everyone is capable of evil and they must resist it.
  • Banquo doesn't speak out against injustice and corruption, despite being tempted by the promise of being "the root and father of many kings".
  • He won't reveal the evil prophecy that promises him attractive things as he wants it to come true too
  • has the flaw of ambition. However, his flaw is not his hamartia he can resist it.
• WitcHes propjecies:

  • 
    
  • Macbeth "rapt withal" connotations of being entranced and absorbed .
  • Banquo "neither beg nor fear“ as he is indifferent to their prophecies takes the witches for what they physically appear to be ragged old women.
  • He doesn't trust them so he perceives their prophecies with scepticism.
  • Banquo's role as foil emphasised by the juxtaposition of his prophecies with Macbeth's "lesser" and "greater", Macbeth’s antithesis suggests Banquo is morally strong and virtuous resists evil,
  • contrast to Macbeth, who morally weak, innately flawed and who gives into temptation.
• Response to the Supernatural:

  • Banquo resists the temptations of evil offered by the Supernatural appeasing to a contemporary audience,
  • which widely believed that the devil existed on earth and walked amongst humans trying to tempt them.
  • Witches = symbol of temptation to sin that Banquo, as a moral superior, is able to resist.
  • • When Banquo finds that the prophecy is coming true he responds with "what, can the devil speak true".
  • implies he views them as agents of the devil
  • supports James l's view in Daemonologie that witches are controlled by the devil.
• Aligned with Jesus:

  • give a moral message to the audience about rejecting evil thoughts and the importance of turning to God in times of temptation.
  • Banquo is tempted on some level but his ability to reject evil im makes him a moral character.
  • less able to resist ambition when he sleeps he subconsciously thinks about the Witches' prophecy
  • instead of trying to hide this, he confesses to God and asks for help in remaining moral and virtuous.
  • Biblical connotations as Jesus was tempted three times by the devil and resisted Shakespeare is attempting to draw parallels between the Banquo and Jesus
• Macbeth plotting to murder banquo:

  • Death at the peripeteia (sudden reversal of fortune) Shakespeare portray Banquo's death as a noble one.
  • Banquo to be killed by Macbeth's assassins and die while saving his child would have been more compelling to James I than the death of Duncan
  • due to James personal connection and interest in Banquo and will, therefore, care about his death at the hands of Macbeth.
• Macbeth plotting to kill banquo:

  • significant as it made a change from the original version of Macbeth: His original source material
  • Originally, Banquo was portrayed as the co-conspirator of Macbeth and was involved in the murder.
  • This was changed t to flatter Banquo and James I, who believed he was the descendant of Banquo.
  • presenting Banquo as favorably shows support and praise for James to win his political support against Puritans trying to ban theatre.
• Significance of Macbeth plotting to murder banquo:

  • demonstrate shakesperaes belief in James' claim to the throne and the 'Divine Right of Kings'
  • show he is not a threat to James' post-gunpowder plot. He was initially connected to the plotters close friends with Shakespeare's father
  • people had been executed for lesser connections. Actors / playwrights were naturally suspected of these crimes